PRESS RELEASE

MANA Vice President John Minto

Monday 5th November

13 in Court Today for Opposing Ethnic and Social Cleansing in Glen Innes


13 people have appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning, following arrests at Glen Innes last Thursday evening. Included in those arrested is Mana co-Vice President John Minto.

“The arrests are a disgrace and arise from aggressive police mishandling of non-violent, passive resistance to the removal of state houses from Glen Innes” says MANA Vice President John Minto.

“The police have become increasingly violent in their handling of these protests but the Glen Innes community is not deterred”.

Protests will continue this coming Thursday at 7pm in Apirana Avenue, Glen Innes. The protests are calling for a moratorium on the proposed Glen Innes “redevelopment” so negotiations with the community can take place.

The court appearances come just two days before a march in Wellington which will bring delegations from Glen Innes in Auckland, Maraenui in Napier and Pomare in Lower Hutt to present a petition to MPs on the steps of parliament at 1pm. The march leaves Civic Square at 12 noon.

The demands of the march are:
1. All Housing New Zealand “urban renewal” programmes in Glen Innes, Maraenui, Pomare and other areas be halted so communities can discuss and negotiate the “renewals” with Housing New Zealand.
2. All 90-day eviction notices for “urban renewal” programmes be withdrawn pending the outcome of community negotiations with affected communities.
3. The criteria for access to a HNZ home revert to the requirements prior to July 2011.
4. Vacant state houses in all NZ communities be immediately let to families in crisis.
5. The company to oversee housing redevelopment in Tamaki – the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company – be disestablished immediately.
6. Reopen all Housing New Zealand offices around the country.
7. A major state-house building and renovation programme be started – aim to build 20,000 new state houses within two years.
ENDS

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